A/N: Thank you to all who reviewed. So sorry for the long update wait. But here is another chapter, hope it's good:

Usually, in the aftermath of a kidnaping/attempted murder situation, ice cream would be involved in the cheering up process, but in Rachel's world, that was not welcome. Which was why there was a stop at the bakery on the way home. As they sat at their table in the bakery eating the pastry of their choice, Lindsey was deep in thought. Neither one of them had spoken about what had happened, and he knew that something should be said. He just didn't know what to say. "So, you're okay?" he eventually asked.

Rachel nodded, "the cookie's good," she answered, which once again reminded Lindsey he was talking to a child and not a Harvard Law School Grad, or someone who could remember the 90's, he was going to have to be more specific.

"Rachel, I didn't mean right now," he explained. "Well, I mean do I mean right now, but about before." Lindsey stopped and thought about what he said. It probably sounded confusing. "Okay, let me try again, I want to know how you're feel about before, but not how you were feeling before, how you are feeling now because of before...wait. I don't think that makes sense either...I'll get this straight..."

"Are you trying to ask if those scary things scared me? Or if the needles were hurty?" Rachel questioned, cutting her father off.

Lindsey sighed in deep relief. "Yes, that's what I am trying to ask."

"Then how come you didn't just say that?"

Lindsey couldn't help but laugh a little. "I guess I'm just silly like that."

"I know." Rachel agreed innocently, then went back to her cookie. Lindsey stared at her.

"Um...Rach, remember the question I was trying to ask?"

"Yeah."

Lindsey moved his eyes from side to side. He was still more used to dealing with adults then children. "Um...can you answer it, please?"

Rachel looked down and played with her cookie, which made him realize she had understood he was still waiting for an answer, but was playing dumb because she didn't want to answer.

Wow, she's really good.

If this were a case, he'd have it in the bag. He had spent years perfecting his interrogation skills,he was well known for getting the answers he wanted from someone on the whiteness stand without even really trying. But it wasn't a case, so he had to be very careful about what he said. "Rachel, I would really like you to answer me now," he told her, making sure he didn't come off as intimidating.

"I didn't like it. It was scary," she simply answered in a small voice, "almost ducky scary."

Almost? Either I over estimated what went on, or I've underestimated this duck fear, and something tells me it's the second one...and I'm not sure if that's good or not.

"Anything else?"he asked.

Rachel shook her head, "no, that's all cause you came and didn't leave me. Like you promised.Can I have another cookie?"

"Sure," he agreed, not wanting to press further. Rachel was very happy.

Two weeks had passed since the Wolfram and Hart incident. Since then, almost every law firm in LA had offered Lindsey a job. He hadn't decided yet if he was going to accept one, and which he could accept. As of now, he had more than enough money so that he didn't have to worry about not working for a while, and that's exactly what he was doing. He was enjoying his time off, it gave him more time for Rachel, Eve and Fred.

One particular day had been what some might call, very boring, up until late that afternoon. Rachel was playing with her toys and Lindsey was reading the paper, when suddenly there was a knock on the door. Lindsey sprung to his feet and went to see who it was. He had been in a good mood that day, until he opened the door. "You're kidding," he bitterly mumbled as he tried to slam the door on the person, unfortunately, she fought it.

"We need to talk," Bridget insisted, still standing in the hallway. Lindsey, who had been standing in front of her making sure Rachel couldn't see, pushed his way passed her and entered the hall too, closing the door behind him. "I want Rachel back," she stated.

Lindsey laughed sarcastically, "I'm sorry, what the hell did you just say?"

"I want Rachel back," she repeated.

"And you think I'm going to agree to that, why?"

"Because she's mine."

Lindsey glared at her and shook his head, "right, of course. She's been yours these past few weeks you abandon her, I don't know how I didn't get that in the first place."

"That's not fair, you don't even know why..."

"I don't care why."

"I just couldn't take it anymore. I mean, it's hard having to take care of someone all the time. I needed a break, to get my head straight and crap," she explained.

"That's it? That's your grand excuse? Well, you haven't changed a bit."

"Shut up, Lindsey, you don't even know me, you never did."

"Oh, I know you alright, I know you lie, hide things, and oh yeah, you're willing to abandon a child in order to, what exactly, go to a spa? Spend more time with friends? Or just random things that make yourself feel good, while you don't care about Rachel."

"And you're Mr. Selfless, right? Hm, yes, that wasn't you who was more concerned with working and becoming all rich all-powering lawyer boy, then oh, I don't know, paying attention to the girl you were seeing?"

"First of all, I was twenty-two then, second of all, you and I were only together for like a month, and third of all, that doesn't have anything to do with this. You should've told me you were pregnant, or told me about her after you gave birth. This is your fault here, don't try and blame it on me."

Before Bridget could respond, the door opened and Rachel popped her head out, "what'ya doing?" she asked, looking only at Lindsey.

"Hiya, Rachel!" Bridget exclaimed, getting the little girls attention. Lindsey was clearly not liking this, and frankly, neither was Rachel. Rachel stepped into the hallway and looked up at her father, she even stood on her toes to give herself more height.

"Why is she here?" Rachel asked.

"Aren't you happy to see me?" Bridget questioned.

"Your mean," the child simply answered.

"Why because I left? It was only a few weeks, Rach, its really not that long."

What the hell is wrong with her?

"I'm staying with daddy," Rachel went on to state.

Got that right.

"Sorry to break it to you, but you're not," her mom responded. Rachel looked sad.

"Yes, she is!" Lindsey argued. "Rachel, go back inside, I'll be in, in one minute."

Rachel did as she was told, however, as Rachel re-entered the apartment, Bridget followed, which made Lindsey do the same. They left the door wide open.

"I have a custody order," Lindsey said.

"I'm disappointed in you, Lindsey, you should know that since I never actually singed away my rights, I still have them."

"Not to me you don't." As the argument went on, the adults voices got louder and meaner, and it upset Rachel so much she ran into her room and closed the door. "Nice going," Lindsey told Bridget.

"Me? Oh no, if anyone upset her, it was you," she argued. "Besides, she get's upset over everything," she added as if it were no big deal.

"There is no way you're taking her out of here."

"Is it working, Lindsey?"

"Is what working?"

"This. This whole caring act you've got going on, you know, the attempt to try to prove to yourself that you don't only care about money, power and yourself? Is it working?"

"It's not an act."

"Bullshit."

"I love Rachel."

"Yeah, but you love yourself just a little bit more, don't you?"

Lindsey laughed, "this coming from you? Okay, sure."

"Lindsey, do you know your door is open...oh," Eve said as she walked through the open apartment door, to find her boyfriend with a woman she's never seen before, "I see you have a guest."

"That's not exactly the five-letter word I'd use for her," he corrected.

"Now, see I don't want my daughter exposed to that kind of thing," Bridget said in mock-offense.

"Funny, you didn't give a single thought to what she might be exposed to when you left her!" Lindsey yelled back, which clued Eve in.

"So, you're Bridget," Eve huffed scowling at the woman.

"So, your Lindsey's girlfriend of the month?" she retorted.

"Girlfriend of eight months," Eve corrected.

"Well isn't that..."

"Stop!" Lindsey insisted. "Bridget, everything is fine here, so you can leave now."

"Not until I get Rachel."

Eve was fumed. "What? You can't just come back here and take her away from Lindsey! How could you even think it? It took a long time for him to get her to trust him, because of how much you abandoning her hurt her. But he did, and she loves him. And he loves her! You can't just separate them!"

"Watch me!" Bridget insisted. Lindsey stepped between the two women.

"Eve, I appreciate you defending me, but maybe it would be best if I settled this with her alone."

"There's nothing to settle Lindsey, I want her back. But if you stop arguing, I am willing to let you see her, maybe once a month or so."

"I don't think so. I am a lawyer, Bridget, you don't even want to try to fight me in court with this," Lindsey threatened.

"Yeah, but, judges are more sympathetic to mothers. You really should know that by now."

"Not when the father clearly makes sure that she doesn't deserve sympathy. Which I fully intend on doing."

"How are you gonna do that Lindsey? By pointing out that you're a self-involved workaholic, that is completely driven by the desire to be rich?"

"No, actually, I intended one pointing out that I left my job, rearranged my life to accommodate Rachel, during the time you kicked her out of yours. What if I really was the self-involved workaholic you accuse me of being? What if I never agreed to take her and she ended up in god knows what kind of foster home? What then? Did you think of that, or care? And if she ended up someplace good, there'd be no way you could get her out of the system just by showing up again. There's certainly no way you're doing that now!"

"Well, I guess we'll see about that in court," Bridget replied before storming out of the apartment.

After the door slammed, Rachel's door opened and her head popped out, "am I gonna have to leave you?" she asked, worried.

Lindsey shook his head, "no. No, not at all," he answered.

Later that night after Eve left and Rachel was put to bed, Lindsey laid in bed thinking. His conversation with Bridget made him think about his life pre and post taking Rachel in. And what he was giving up. Yes, Wolfram and Hart had it's flaws, but it gave him what he wanted since he was a kid. Power and money. He liked having that. A lot. No matter what law-firm he'd work at next, if he joined one at all, he'd never have close to what he did at W&H. The best part was that although he worked at Wolfram and Hart, he never worked for them. He wasn't their bitch. Always did things by his own terms and still managed to come out ahead. He stopped Vanessa Brewer and got a promotion. He hid Darla at his house during a time when they were looking for her, and got another promotion. Who knows what he could get now? Nathan knows he has files on him, he could probably get his job back, and a higher position and/or nice perks. And after all, he'd spent quite a lot of time working his ass of for it.

But on the other hand, there was Rachel. Shy, quite, a bit odd, but very sweet Rachel. Who adored him. The feeling was mutual. Of course, she didn't know about all the horrible things he's done. And he hadn't planned on having her find out any time soon. He wondered what she would think of him if she knew. It went beyond Wolfram and Hart. Lindsey would never give her the satisfaction of admitting it to Bridget, but she had a point. He was an awful, self obsessed boyfriend. Not just to her. Right up until Eve. And even in the beginning of their relationship he was still hung up on Darla. Now he loved her, but would it last? Or would he screw it up? Rachel was already attached to her. So screwing that relationship up would have the chain reaction of hurting Rachel. From then on, everything he did had that risk.

'Can I do this and not screw up?' he asked himself.

Lindsey sighed and took one last long thought about what he was about to do. There was no going back or changing his mind once it was done. It was what had to be done, better for everyone all around. He rolled over, picked up his phone and dialed a familiar number. "Yeah, Lilah, I know what time it is, but I need another favor," he demanded.

TBC

A/N: What is the favor? Well, the ending is coming up directly next. I am not going to wait between posting. I think I've not updated long enough. Review, read on, enjoy.